Category: Design

Art has a remarkable ability to transform a space by adding warmth, personality, and a sense of style. It can take an ordinary room and turn it into a place that reflects your taste and interests, making it feel more inviting and comfortable. Art pieces can also tell a story about the people who live there. They can be a reflection of experiences, memories, or artistic preferences. 

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to invest in expensive collections or rare artworks to achieve this effect. Many simple art pieces can have just as much impact, allowing you to personalise your space without breaking the bank. These simple pieces offer a different way to enhance your décor, whether it’s by adding a touch of colour, introducing interesting textures, or showcasing a bit of your personality through unique designs.

In this article, we’ll explore different types of art pieces that are simple but can instantly make your home look more unique and a true reflection of your style.  

1. Art Prints: Affordable and Stylish

Art prints are a versatile option for adding a touch of creativity to any room. They’re reproductions of original artworks, usually printed on paper or canvas. They also come in a wide variety of styles, from classic landscapes and modern abstract pieces to playful illustrations and typography. Art prints are popular because they are an affordable way to bring artistic elements into a home without the high price tag of original pieces. 

Additionally, art prints are available in various sizes. This makes them versatile for any space, whether you want to create a focal point with a large piece or add smaller accents to a gallery wall.

2. Vases and Small Sculptures

Handcrafted vases and small sculptures can add depth and texture to your space by offering a blend of function and artistry. Aside from holding flowers, vases can be standout décor items on their own, especially when they feature unique shapes and interesting colours or are made from certain materials.

For example, a ceramic vase can add a touch of rustic charm, while a sleek glass vase can bring modern elegance. Sculptures, on the other hand, can range from small abstract figures to nature-inspired shapes. They add texture and depth to bookshelves, mantelpieces, or side tables.

3. Personal Photographs: Adding a Touch of Nostalgia

There’s something special about using personal or vintage photographs in your home. It adds a sense of nostalgia and makes your space feel truly lived-in. Unlike generic décor, photos hold sentimental value that lends a truly lived-in and look and feel. Your photo decorations could include snapshots from family holidays, portraits of loved ones, or even vintage pictures that tell a story of your heritage or interests. 

When displaying photos, consider using classic frames or creating a photo wall with a mix of black-and-white and coloured prints for a gallery-like feel. You can also turn your favourite digital snaps into high-quality prints or canvases. Either way, it offers a simple yet meaningful way to personalise your space.

4. Minimalist Wall Hangings and Tapestries

For those looking to add a bit of texture and warmth to blank walls, minimalist wall hangings and tapestries can do wonders. These textile pieces add warmth and texture to a space, which makes them ideal for filling up blank walls. They can range from woven designs with abstract patterns to simple macramé pieces that add a bohemian touch. Unlike framed art, tapestries offer a softer, more casual aesthetic, making a room feel cosy and inviting. As a recommendation, opt for neutral tones or subtle patterns that blend seamlessly with your existing décor.

5. Quirky Candle Holders and Functional Art

Candle holders, lamps, and other functional art pieces can also serve as stylish décor elements. For instance, quirky accessories like sculptural candle holders with geometric shapes or whimsical animal motifs add a playful touch to any space. On the other hand, hand-painted lampshades or uniquely shaped table lamps bring a practical yet artistic element to your home.

6. Botanical Art: Bringing the Outdoors Inside

Nature-inspired art is another wonderful way to add a calming, organic feel to your home. Consider celebrating the beauty of plants and flowers through illustrations, prints, or pressed flower frames. These are a great way to bring a touch of nature into your home without the maintenance of real plants. Botanical prints are great options as well. They often feature detailed drawings of flowers, leaves, and other natural elements, providing a unique take for plant-related art.

When it comes to displaying these art pieces, consider hanging a collection of botanical prints in the kitchen or framing pressed flowers in your living room.

Simple art pieces can make a significant difference in creating a unique, inviting home. From art prints and personal photographs to custom-crafted vases and quirky candle holders, these elements add character to your space without draining your wallet. With a bit of creativity and a few well-chosen art pieces, your home can be transformed into a space that reflects your personality and taste.

Now that the pandemic is slowly being pushed out of the way, and normality is starting to peek its head back out, people from all over the world are going out of their homes and choosing to do something fun. Whether this is visiting the thriving city of Rotterdam, or somewhere else in the world, people want to get out of the house. But with that said, it’s vital to recognize the environmental impact that travel does on the planet. You can donate to organizations to plant trees but that doesn’t necessarily do anything for you and other travelers to over stop their consumption habits.

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So, how can you improve being an eco-friendly traveler? While it’s going to depend on your travel methods such as using edmunds for your car needs or opting into public transport, you’re also going to want to think about the accommodation too. The actual transportation itself is only one thing to keep in mind, but there’s a lot that needs to be considered. Here are some tips for finding the right eco-friendly accommodation methods for your travel.

Use booking accommodation platforms that are dedicated to sustainability

There are more than enough online platforms to go around which are completely dedicated to only displaying accommodations for travelers that are entirely eco-friendly. So, whenever you’re searching for eco-friendly hotels or other forms of accommodation, your best bet would be to search there first.

Check for some type of “Green” label on booking websites

Whether you’re wanting to search through some of the biggest online accommodation platforms online, or maybe you’re wanting something a little more simplistic such as AirBnb, don’t forget to check how sustainable said accommodation is. Usually, most websites will have some type of a “green” label.

 This indicates that the hotel or BnB is either entirely eco-friendly, or they have some options that travelers can opt into for being eco-friendly. This could be something as small as not changing the bed set or towels during your stay, but it could be as large as using low-flow toilets, showers, and only local produce.

Don’t be afraid to reach out

There’s nothing wrong with reaching out and asking questions, so, why not do it? If you see a hotel or BnB that piques your interest, just reach out and ask a bunch of questions. Ask what eco-friendly methods they put into practice. Usually, these accommodations will be more than happy to explain what they do.

Beware of greenwashing

Greenwashing is a marketing tactic whereby “green” products are promoted as being better for the environment and/or more ethical than they actually are. This is done primarily through deceptive advertising, or by devaluing existing systems that genuinely work. While it’s often used to sell products, you’ll find plenty of it within the travel industry too. So, how can you be sure if a hotel or some other accommodation is using greenwashing? Here are some things to look out for:

• Vague language
• Lots of buzzwords
• Lack of proof

Greenwashing happens more than enough within this industry, so make sure you know what to spot so you can prevent giving your business to these types of people and businesses. 

If you live in a home with wall-to-wall carpeting or a house full of rugs, you are well aware of how fast your soft, attractive flooring may become dingy and unclean due to foot traffic. Because your daily habits and cleaning techniques have a significant impact on how well your carpets perform, there may be more you can be doing to ensure that your carpet looks and smells its best all of the time. Here are a few suggestions for treading more gently, ranging from how you vacuum to your position on wearing shoes in the house.

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Remove any stains as soon as possible

The longer you put off dealing with spills and food or pet stains, the more difficult it will be to clean them up later on, and the more harm they will do to your carpet as well. To ensure that your rugs and carpets last as long as possible—and that they remain as clean as possible—be meticulous about cleaning up any spills as soon as they occur. Also keep in mind that different materials and types of stains need the use of different cleaning procedures, so be sure you are using the correct solution for your carpet.

Always remove your shoes

If you truly want to keep your carpet clean, make it a rule that shoes must be removed as you enter the house so that you do not track in dirt and debris from outside. You may even wear socks or stylish cork-soled lounge shoes or slippers to wear about your home to preserve carpeting from oils and grime from your feet if you want to go the additional mile. Just make sure you never wear them outdoors.

Invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner

You might believe that any vacuum cleaner would do the job, but if you have a lot of carpeting in your house, it is absolutely worth it to spend a little more money on a high-quality vacuum cleaner. Keeping your carpets clean on a regular basis is one of the most essential things you can do to maintain their appearance, and you should make sure your vacuum is up to the task.

Vacuum your home twice a week

While we are talking about vacuuming, make sure you are doing it on a regular basis. First and foremost, you should be cleaning your carpet at least twice a week; but, the manner in which you vacuum is important as well. According to Martha Stewart, you should vacuum each location on your carpet 8 to 12 times, depending on how much foot traffic the region receives, and you should vacuum in all different directions to get the most dirt and debris out. If you do not believe you will be able to keep up with the twice-weekly vacuuming, consider investing in a robot vacuum to take up the slack in between your hands-on sessions with the vacuum.